Tourist visa in Ho Chi Minh?

[ChomDo]

I'm going to Ho Chi Ming City next week to apply for a tourist visa between my student visas. I currently have a NON ED visa from a language school but due to the new stricter rules I don't have time to apply for my next years student visa so I will try to get a tourist visa to have more time to arrange things. Does anyone have experiences in doing this in Ho Chi Minh. Should I expect some problems or a smooth process? I have done tourist visas before I various cities (Seoul, Vientiane, Hong Kong, Helsinki). I have always got one but sometimes they have asked for a ticket out of Thailand. Would they ask for a flight ticket out of Thailand or any other special forms?

I already read the reports from the "visa reports in the region" section but it wasn't helpful for my case so any new information would be well appreciated. Thanks!

[ubonjoe]

You can get the tourist visa but you probably will need to show a flight into and out of the country.

There are much better places you could of chosen to get your visa.

[ChomDo]

What's wrong with Ho Chi Ming then? It's the most convenient for me and I'm bored of Vientiane. Also I will have to go to Vientiane after my tourist visa to get my next Non ED.

[ubonjoe]

Because the consulate there is not consistent in it's requirements.

[ignis]

If your so bored of Vientiane, why not go to Savanekhet ? apply in morning pick up same day after 3pm..

[kurita]

I don't recommend hcmc I had done it there and took me 3-4 days and they asked so much documents

[ChomDo]

Actually I have felt all of the embassies/consulates are inconsistent with their requirements, but I never heard that Ho Chi Minh was a problematic consulate. The nicest one I've visited is Seoul and the worst Hong Kong. If I do manage to get the tourist visa from HCM anyway I'll get 90 days to prepare for my next ED visa but If I don't then it will be the 30+30 (with the new regulations) so the risk is not too high.

How can a tourist visa take 3-4 days? Every embassy I have been, it was always ready the next day. Did you mean that you were missing documents etc and that's why it took so long Kurita?

How could you get a tourist visa in Savanakhet in one day??

Anyway I will prepare all the documents I can think of for HCM (hotel bookings in Thailand, flight tickets out, bank statement, travel plan). Anything else they might want to see? From my school I can also get a paper stating that I need time to wait for my ED visa papers to come back from the ministry of education, but I'm guessing the people at the consulate wouldn't care much for that.

[ubonjoe]

Savannakhet does visas on the same day you apply. Apply by 11 am and get your passport back at 3:30 pm.

[paz]

From my school I can also get a paper stating that I need time to wait for my ED visa papers to come back from the ministry of education, but I'm guessing the people at the consulate wouldn't care much for that.

If you are waiting for MoE approval for Ed then maybe it's better that you get a last extension or do a border hop for visa exempt, because thee documents may otherwise have an expiration such that you have to go get the non-imm ED visa shortly, making two trips to a consulate in a month is not cheap or funny.

[ChomDo]

Well the thing is I already have flights to CHM and a paid hotel so I can not change my plans now..what I want to know is just how to best deal with the process in HCM.

I have never heard about getting a tourist visa in Savanakhet in half a day. If it's so easy why doesn't everyone do that then? I thought these border places have always just been used for the 15 day extension but not a 90 day tourist visa.

[paz]

You may not have heard it, but a lot of people uses Savannakhet. The choice also depends from where one is staying.

[ignis]

Well the thing is I already have flights to CHM and a paid hotel so I can not change my plans now..what I want to know is just how to best deal with the process in HCM.

I have never heard about getting a tourist visa in Savanakhet in half a day. If it's so easy why doesn't everyone do that then? I thought these border places have always just been used for the 15 day extension but not a 90 day tourist visa.

Did you look at the Pinned Topic ?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/189375-latest-reports-of-getting-a-visa-in-the-region/

[oldthaihand99]

I don't recommend hcmc I had done it there and took me 3-4 days and they asked so much documents

Hmmm. What country are you from?

The latest reports page has two listings for single entry tourist visa at HCMC. One is actually about a "single entry non-O (based on marriage)", not a tourist visa, so it seems it should be moved to the appropriate section:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/738720-single-entry-non-o-at-hcmc;-very-efficient/

The other listing states in the post of 2014-01-19 19:38:09:

"Applied around 10.30 - 11.00 AM, collected visa next day, hardly anyone else there."

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697796-thai-tourist-visa-in-hcmcsaigon-report/#

BTW there was also a recent next day service there with a non o:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/749854-thai-embassy-ho-chi-minh-non-o-visa-experience/

In fact all 3 of the above reports indicate next day service.

All 3 also indicate not many documents being required & things going easy in that regard or at worst moderately. Of course any embassy has the right to ask for more documents or refuse a visa if they have valid reasons or suspicions.

[ChomDo]

Yes as I wrote in my first post "I already read the reports from the "visa reports in the region" section but it wasn't helpful for my case so any new information would be well appreciated."

As oldthailand99 said the first report from HMC was in the wrong section and the second one just stated that he didn't have any problems.

I still wonder why the specialized visa companies such as Thaivisaservice and Jacks Golf don't offer the one day tourist visa trip to Savannakhet if it's so easy as you say. So next time I need a tourist visa (60+30 days) I can just drive to Savannakhet by myself and get it done in half a day. Do they take your passport to the embassy in Phnom Penh so quickly or how do they manage to do it at the border?

[ChomDo]

Sorry I actually confused Savannakhet with Aranyaphrathet (that border crossing at Cambodian border).

[oldthaihand99]

I have never heard about getting a tourist visa in Savanakhet in half a day. If it's so easy why doesn't everyone do that then?

Many reasons. Like you said, convenience & boredom, for examples. Or if you want a triple entry, Laos can't give you that, but Bali & Hanoi can. Or if you want a double entry with 6 months validity, Laos fails, but other places succeed. In Laos you can experience terribly long lineups & hours of waiting being eaten alive by flying vampires. In other places it's a 2 minute breeze in air conditioned rooms.

[paz]

In Laos you can experience terribly long lineups & hours of waiting being eaten alive by flying vampires. In other places it's a 2 minute breeze in air conditioned rooms.

Not in Savannakhet, no lines and same day service

[jacksam]

OP I go to hcmc every month. Thai embassy there is very

Smoother. No busy and good service. You have to take your plane ticket. I mean email print out. You cannot just show cell phone. There is travel agent directly across road if you forget anything and they will print etc.

My next trip is Nov 8 ....3000baht return. I stay in district 1 brilliant place. Have never understood why people do border runs on bus. For me 150 baht to airport plus 3k and a lovely time in hcmc. Too easy. Visa takes no time.

[oldthaihand99]

In Laos you can experience terribly long lineups & hours of waiting being eaten alive by flying vampires. In other places it's a 2 minute breeze in air conditioned rooms.

Not in Savannakhet, no lines and same day service

I haven't noticed that, & with the high season imminent & the constant hype for Laos in most threads re tourist visas, you might want to monitor it from day day, as i won't be at all surprised if Savannakhet soon sees lineups like they have in Vientiane, Laos.

[clorox]

OP I go to hcmc every month. Thai embassy there is very

Smoother. No busy and good service. You have to take your plane ticket. I mean email print out. You cannot just show cell phone. There is travel agent directly across road if you forget anything and they will print etc.

My next trip is Nov 8 ....3000baht return. I stay in district 1 brilliant place. Have never understood why people do border runs on bus. For me 150 baht to airport plus 3k and a lovely time in hcmc. Too easy. Visa takes no time.

may i asked what airline you went with for 3k baht, is that 3k including Hotel at district 1 the most expensive area in HCMC, and you forget to mention you do need a visa to enter Vietnam and that cost 2700 baht for one month, free if you're from around asia area.

maybe there's a reason people don't go there.

[jacksam]

Clorox, the 3k airline return ticket is with AirAsia. Yes 2700 plus online visa letter another 600. Hotels expensive???? I stay very good one 800 per night.

I drink in Bui Vien for 10000dong for large Saigon green.

I usually stay about 4 days. That's not an expensive break from bkk. I spend about $600usd and have lot more fun. Depends if that's a lot of money. For some maybe. I just threw it up for the OP.

you can go to koh Chang in a minibus. I prefer taxi.

[jacksam]

Oh the 10000 dong is 15baht.

[ChomDo]

Well thank you very much jacksam for the first valuable information about the process in HCM. That was my whole point about this post to get info about HMC only because that's the place I am going to. I also agree that sometimes it makes no sense to do this visa trips just for the visa and sit in a van for long hours and wait at borders and hassle with everything. I also got my ticket to HCM for 2800 THB return from Air Asia. I decided to take a nice hotel so I can really just relax for a few days, but as jacksam said, there are lots of nice enough places for just a few hundred baht if you are on a budget. Besides I don't need a visa to Vietnam so it's much easier than other neighboring countries.

jacksam could you tell me if they ask for a plane ticket out of Thailand (after you tourist visa is expired)? Any other additional documents that they might ask for? Have you done many consecutive tourist visas in HCM? I used to do many consecutive tourist visas before (Seoul, Hong Kong, Vientiane, Helsinki) but now I had a ED visa in between so I hope they won't make a problem about that.

Thanks!

[jacksam]

OP as for exact visa info the blokes like ubonjoe, paz etc are the ones to listen to. I haven't read a post about refusal of back to back Tourist Visas like your suggesting. I think if you liked Vietnam you could mix in some visa exempt stamps.

At Thai embassy in HCMC you will need print out of your plane ticket INTO Thailand....As for boarding flight in bkk for outbound....the attendant will ask for your visa letter of approval. Whenever flying back if you have no visa, they ask ,how long are you intending to stay in Thailand. Just say two weeks as the. Stamp is for 30 days. Which you can extend for 30.

If you want any advice about things in hcmc feel free to PM.......Having said that I just chill there. Probably been 20 times and hardly got out of hcmc. Find it great place for the soul. Very family orientated even in tourist areas like district 1. Oh and taxi from airport is max $10usd about 200,000 dong . They will ask for more. Return no problem....your hotel will book your pick up $8 and include in your tab. Very cool joint.

[jacksam]

Chomdo....just re read your post. No they will not ask for your ticket out of Thailand especially for tourist visa or any other visa. Flying out with no visa and wishing to obtain stamp on arrival.....the airline will ask how long your staying. Rather MAY. As stated just say couple of weeks.

[ChomDo]

Ok great thanks for the update on the flight tickets. So then I don't need to book any outbound tickets from Thailand to some random destination in 3 months time. In Seoul and Hong Kong they asked to see proof that I will be flying out of Thailand again within 3 months, but in the end they gave me the visa without having to book any extra flights. In Helsinki tho where they are extremely strict they refused to approve a tourist visa without paid departure ticket out of Thailand after visa expiry.

I used to have long term visas before but now I'm a bit in between what to do next as the rules are getting tighter. I just need one tourist visa now until I wait for the language schools to get their system running again after the changes. After that I should be fine for one year again.

I'm looking forward to HCM..I was there about 8 years ago but it seems to have changed a lot. I've been reading that it's hard to get a taxi that doesn't try to trick you. I plan to go straight to the Thai consulate from the airport and then to the hotel after. Any hints on how to get a reliable taxi?

[jacksam]

The taxis in hcmc are fine. They are metered and service is good. Only problem is getting out of airport. Well its not a problem but you need to be firm. Personally depending on where hotel is ...I would check in, even if early and then get taxi to consulate. (I go on gf bike)

If you have what you need it will take few minutes. Its not a busy joint. You have to come back next day for passport. But its walk in out. They are outbox front desk so ask taxi to wait. Check passport ,make sure no stuff up.

Tell taxi to take you to cafe in bui vien and after all that stress have a 50 cents 500ml beer.

[beechguy]

Well the thing is I already have flights to CHM and a paid hotel so I can not change my plans now..what I want to know is just how to best deal with the process in HCM.

I have never heard about getting a tourist visa in Savanakhet in half a day. If it's so easy why doesn't everyone do that then? I thought these border places have always just been used for the 15 day extension but not a 90 day tourist visa.

Then apparently you didn't read enough in the "Pinned Topics" or this section. There is a difference between border runs, and applying for a visa at a Consulate.

Many seem to say, that air tickets are required at HCMC, so plan accordingly. May be you'll get lucky, but if not, book a cheap ticket, or something that can be canceled.

[paz]

The taxis in hcmc are fine. They are metered and service is good.

Is not unusual to run into a fraudulent meter taxi in HCMC. However they are smart enough to play the scam only under certain circumstances for better chances to get away with it.

[jacksam]

Stick with company like Vinisun....they are everywhere and reliable